Check-box.



No. 688,874. Painted nec. I7, |901.

' T. F. mccuLLousH.

CHECK BOX.

(Application led Feb. 1, 1901.) V (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I`.

o4 c# c5' d5 y' d ""[lllll l i w/T/vfssfs.- v/fvl/.EA/rvcw 4 0?/ ZWIZMMMQ.

No. 633,374.A Patented Dec'. 21901.

- T. F. MecuLLouaH.

CHECK BOX.

(.mpplicatmn mea Feb. 1, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Shadi 2.

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES Uivrrnn Sterns Partnr @triceI THOMAS FRANCES MCCULLOUGH, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

CHECK-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,874, dated December 17, 1901. Application filed February l, 1901. Serial NoL 45,580. (No model.)

To LLZZ whom, z3 may con/corre:

Be it known that I, THoMAs FRANCES Mc- CULLOUGH, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Check-B0X, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device for holdingandsuccessivelydelivering consecutively-` numbered checks. The device is adapted especially for use in barber-shops, physicians` ofces, and other places where customers or clients enter and are served in their turn, and by means of the device each person on entering the waiting-room may secure a check, and these checks, running consecutively, will settle all questions concerning the relative times of arrival.

This specification is a specitic description of one form of the invention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a vertical section of the inven! tion with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the exterior of the box. Fig. t is a detail section showing the manner of discharging the checks. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the guide in which is carried the delivery-slide, and Fig. G is a plan view ofthe said slide.

CL represents the box or casing, which may be provided with a lid d at its top to permit reaching the interior of the box. The front wall of the box has a glass panel a? therein, and a delivery-chute a3 projects from the interior of the casing outward at the front side thereof, as shown best in Figs. l and 3. Rigidly supported within the casing ct is a baseplate h, having a slide or guidewayb attached thereto or formed integral therewith, as desired. This guideway is provided with a oircular opening b2 in its top and a corresponding opening b3 in its bottom, the opening b3 being out of registry with the opening b2 and communicating with the chute d3, so as to discharge the checks into said chute. Fitted within the guideway b is the slide o, which is in the forni of a plate and which is provided with an opening c' therein capable of registering as the slide moves, iirst with the opening b2 and then with the opening h3. The bottom of the guideway 1) has a longitudinal two studs c2, form ed on the slide c. The slide c has a shank c3 attached thereto, and this slide carries an expansive spring c4, which serves normally to hold the slide in the position shown in Fig. 4. Mounted in the casing c below the guide b is a rock-shaft d, one end of which is projected outside of the casing and provided with a crank-handle CZ to permit its operation. This shaft cl carries an arm'cl?, which bears between the projections c2 on the slide c. This shaft d also carries an arm d3, projecting upwardly therefrom and `operating as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted to turn around an axis e', fastened tothe plate b, is a plate e, which supports four vertically-disposed tubes or stacks eadapted to carry the checks which are indicated at j' in Fig. 4. In each tube or stack cl is located a weight e3, and these weights are each provided with a transversely-projected pin e4, these pins extending through vertical slots e5 in the tubes e2. (See Figs. l and 2.) The upper end of the axis e is held by a bracket es, disposed horizontally in the casing. (See Fig. l.)

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, movement of the shaft d in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 will cause the arm d2 to impart a movement to the slide c. Previously one of the checks f will have fallen through the lower end of the tube e2, which is over the opening b2 in the slideway b, and also through the opening h2 into the opening c in the slide c. The movement of the slide o will therefore carry this check horizontally until the opening b3 is reached, and then the check will fall through this opening onto the chute (t3 and be delivered to the outside ofthe casing on. When the shaft d is released, the spring cIl vwill serve to return the parts to the position shown in Fig, 4, whereupon a second check will drop into the opening c' in the slide and lie there ready for a repetition of the above-described operation. Assuming that one of the tubes e2 is over the opening h2 of the slideway b, as described, and that all of slot h4 therein, through which project loosely IOO `of the star-wheel.

the checks have been delivered from the said tube, the pin e of the weight e3 in this tube will then engage the bottom wall of the slot c5, and the Afurther downward movement of the weight in the tube will be prevented. Previously the Weight will have followed the checks down through .the tube. When the pin e4 is in this position, it will lie in the path of the arm d3, and the arm d3 striking this pin will turn the plate or disk e', with the attached tubes, a quarter-revolution, placing another tube e2 over the opening b2 in the slideway b', and then the checks will be delivered from this second tube. that as soon as the contents of one tube have been exhausted the parts will act automatically to place a second tube in position and that the checks will be withdrawn from this tube in the same manner as from the firstmentioned tube. 4 This operation will continue until the contents of all four of the tubes have been exhausted.

For the purpose of assisting the parts e4 and d3 in throwing the tubes e2 around the pivot e I attach to the pivot-shaft a star-wheel 7c, having four points, one for each tube e2. Against this tube hearsaspring-inger Z,which is bent at its end to lie in between the points This bent end of the finger l will not only serve to hold the tubes yieldingly in place, but it will b v acting on the edges of the teeth of the star-wheel assist in turning the Wheel and its attached parts.

If desired, various attachments may be provided for use -in connection with the apparatus to afford conveniences to the customers and also to render the device attractive or amusing. Such an attachment I have illustrated in Figs. l and 2, in which views adrum g is shown, this drum being arranged before the glass plate a2 in the casing a and serving to carry pictures, advertisements, legends, or other analogous matter. Fastened l,to the axis of the drum g is a ratchet-wheel g', which is engaged by a pawl h, carried on an arm h', fastened to the shaft cl. As the shaft d is rocked a step-by-step movement is impart-ed to the drum, and the various devices produced thereon are successively shown through the glass plate cu2. A springarm t' is mounted within the casing and engages a notched Wheel t", fastened on the axis of the drum g, so as to hold the drum stationary until the force of the spring t' is overcome by the superior force which may be employed to drive the shaft d.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of my invention may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence I consider myself entitled to all such variations as may lie within the scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention,- I

Therefore it will be Seen claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a check-box, the combination of a slideway having openings in the top and vbottom thereof, such openings being out of registry, a `groupA of check-receptacles mounted above the slideway and capable of movement to successively present the said check-receptacles to the opening in the top of the slideway, a slide working in the slideway and having an opening capable of registering with either of the openings in the slideway, a rock-shaft, an arm on the rock-shaft, the arm engaging a part of the slide to operate the same, a second arm on the rock-shaft, means connected with the receptacle and engaged by the second arm to impart periodical movements to the check-receptacles, and means for driving the rock-shaft.

2.l A check-box, having a slideway mounted therein and provided with openings in its top and bottom Walls, said openings being ont of registry with each other, a slide Working in the slideway and having an opening therein, a group of check-receptacles movably mounted over the slideway, the checkreceptacles having each a slot thereinand being capable of registering successively with the opening in the top of the slideway, a weighted follower mounted in each check-receptacle and having a projection extended through the slot therein, a rock-shaft, an arm attached to the rock-shaft and serving to operate the slide, and a second arm attached to the rock-shaft, the second arm being adapted to engage the projection on the follower when the follower reaches its lowermost position, whereby to impart a movement t0 the said group of check-receptacles.

3. A check-box,comprising a slideway with openings in its opposite walls, an oriflced slide mounted therein and adapted to move the checks therethrough to deliver the same, a group of check-receptacles mounted adjacent to the slideway and connected to move in unison to successively present themselves to the slide, a follower-Weight moving in each check-receptacle, said receptacles having ver- IOO IIO

tical slots therein and the follower-weights 

